Imagine an open source application that has two functions:
1) Allows the user to make a post to Twitter with a hash-tag indicating how that user voted (like #VotedCPC #VotedLPC #VotedNDP #VotedGRN #VotedBLOC #VotedOTHER) , and
2) Aggregation, for personal use of that user, of the counts of all the hash-tags in the set for a period of time (for example Election Day).
Then the permitted action of "the transmission by an individual, on a non-commercial basis on what is commonly known as the Internet, of his or her personal political views." would be enabled and the aggregated, publically avaliable information, which is not an "opinion survey of how electors voted or will vote at an election or respecting an issue with which a registered party or candidate is associated" could be viewed by an individual without being transmitted.
I'm not a lawyer, but this would seem to get around a number of restrictions. It would not be valid statistically, but it might be interesting.
Maybe for the next go around, if they don't change the law.
I'm just saying.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Education is Our Obligation
So, my daughters are embarking on a the exciting path of revolution. It makes me so proud to see them have at the Provincial Government and the School Board.
The Alberta Government in its wisdom, and on our behalf, have decided that it isn't necessary to pay for the current levels of teaching and support staff. The current budget for Education is insufficient to maintain the status quo.
Perhaps this is left-over from previous inadequate funding; poorly educated administrators and politicians at the departmental level. At least when it comes to math.
According to the recent budget release (http://education.alberta.ca/department/budget.aspx), there is a suggestion that education costs are spiralling out of control. "Over 10 years, funding to the education system has increased by 63 per cent while student enrolment has increased by three per cent." They even have graphs to prove it and on the surface it seems correct. Reality is, however, that if you look at the money spent in terms of the cost of inflation, it looks like about 4.5% per year (approximately). This number seems really close to the AWEI. In other words: this is what we would expect.
Or consider this: If we know that the cost for staffing will go up about 4.4% next year, the enrolment is estimated to go up 1.1%, and the forecast cost for operating support in 2010-2011 is 5,452,711,000 then the budget for 2011-2011 should be at least that much times 1.044 * 1.011 or 5,749,556,000.
It isn't. In fact, it is about 39,109,000 less than that (http://www.finance.alberta.ca/publications/budget/budget2011/education.pdf, the page numbered 48). This is equivalent to about 375 teachers.
Overall, the expenditure on Education is only going up about 2.8% over last year. If the cost of delivering education is going up, we need to pay that bill.
I'm just saying.
The Alberta Government in its wisdom, and on our behalf, have decided that it isn't necessary to pay for the current levels of teaching and support staff. The current budget for Education is insufficient to maintain the status quo.
Perhaps this is left-over from previous inadequate funding; poorly educated administrators and politicians at the departmental level. At least when it comes to math.
According to the recent budget release (http://education.alberta.ca/department/budget.aspx), there is a suggestion that education costs are spiralling out of control. "Over 10 years, funding to the education system has increased by 63 per cent while student enrolment has increased by three per cent." They even have graphs to prove it and on the surface it seems correct. Reality is, however, that if you look at the money spent in terms of the cost of inflation, it looks like about 4.5% per year (approximately). This number seems really close to the AWEI. In other words: this is what we would expect.
Or consider this: If we know that the cost for staffing will go up about 4.4% next year, the enrolment is estimated to go up 1.1%, and the forecast cost for operating support in 2010-2011 is 5,452,711,000 then the budget for 2011-2011 should be at least that much times 1.044 * 1.011 or 5,749,556,000.
It isn't. In fact, it is about 39,109,000 less than that (http://www.finance.alberta.ca/publications/budget/budget2011/education.pdf, the page numbered 48). This is equivalent to about 375 teachers.
Overall, the expenditure on Education is only going up about 2.8% over last year. If the cost of delivering education is going up, we need to pay that bill.
I'm just saying.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Canadian Election 2011 Research Part I
Well, we're off, again!
I don't know who to vote for so I am doing research. This is leading me to new frustration. I like the spin that parties get on some topics.
"Liberals call for immediate action to protect rail shippers; releasing a report does not constitute implementation" POSTED ON MARCH 21, 2011 (http://www.liberal.ca/newsroom/news-release/liberals-call-action-protect-rail-shippers-releasing-report-constitute-implementation/)
The article suggests that the Government, formed by the Conservative members of Parliament, are responsible for the lack of cost review. “The last costing review was conducted in 1992”
It does not mention that the last costing review was conducted under a Conservative Government. It also does not mention that from 1993 until 2006 the Liberal government did not do any costing review.
I do not like being misled this way.
I'm not saying I support the Conservatives nor am I saying I do not support the Liberals...
I'm just saying...
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